Writing in a personal capacity to share views, information and resources for teachers, trade unionists and campaigners in London - and beyond!

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Answering Cable's insults

The first thing that colleagues wanted to talk to me about when I got to school this morning was their anger at Vince Cable's latest insult.

I am sure my staff weren't alone in feeling outraged at yet another politician criticising teachers. His choice of complaint - about deficiencies in career guidance - is particularly galling. Why? Because it is Cable's Government that is responsible for cuts to the dedicated Connexions service, alongside budget cuts that have also slashed much of the additional career guidance once provided by councils.

The Education Select Committee have warned Ministers that cutting services, then simply expecting schools to fill the gap without additional resources, was going to undermine support to youngsters. Clearly Cable wasn't listening.

Instead, Cable chose to try and get a cheap laugh at the expense of teachers by accusing us of not knowing about the 'world of work'. The real problem is that politicians like Cable don't know about the world of education.

Many teachers have a wealth of experience from other employment. All of us work hard trying to equip our students with the skills they need to try to make their way forward in the uncertain future that lies in front of many of them. What we can't be expected to do is to provide specialised career guidance on top of the other responsibilities that already lead teachers to be working 50 to 60 hours a week!

I was glad to make some of these points on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 this lunchtime and hope that I was able to speak up for the teaching profession. For the next few days, the discussion can be heard on the BBC Radio iplayer on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03wpqtx (35 - 43 minutes).

Nick Clegg is now apologising for Vince Cable, realising perhaps the offence that his remarks have caused. Unfortunately for the LibDems, his comments won't be forgotten by teachers.

Martin Powell-Davies

* Brought up as a socialist by parents who hungered for what is right * One adopted grandfather left me a double-barrelled name, the other his name on a 1926 General Strike black-list * Joined the Labour Party as a teenager, left it when it abandoned the values and traditions of so many who built it in the past * Given a comprehensive education at St.Andrew's, Leatherhead * First-class degree from King's College, Cambridge, for those who like that kind of thing * Secondary science teacher in London 1986-2015 * Lewisham NUT Secretary 1993-2015, organiser of many campaigns to defend teachers and education * Living in Sydenham since 1997, father of four who were all so well-supported by Sedgehill School * Member of the NUT National Executive 2010-15 * NUT London Regional Secretary 2016 - * Proud to have been name-checked by Gove for saying that his 'reforms' could make teaching unbearable * Member of the CWI, following its global struggles via http://www.socialistworld.net * Candidate for TUSC in Lewisham West & Penge, 2015 * Member of Penge CC, often a 'Middle Aged Man In Lycra' on Sundays